What's on the line for host Calgary side in Sunday's CEBL 'Surge 2 Dome' season finale?
Article content
There's possibly plenty on the line for the host Surge (15-7) when they match up against the incoming Niagara River Lions (14-8) on the marquee night, including a shot at top spot in the CEBL's Western Conference.
Article content
Article content
And that will come in front of fans upwards of 10,000 strong to take in the second date of the season at Scotiabank Saddledome — this one billed as 'Surge 2 Dome' on Sunday evening (6 p.m., TSN).
Article content
Article content
'A lot is made about these big games and these moments that we create here,' said Surge co-owner Jason Ribiero. 'But none of that happens without the coaches' buy-in and the players buy-in.
Article content
'So I want to say, 'Thank you' to all these guys.'
Article content
That buy-in has the Surge once again in contention for the CEBL championship. In the previous two seasons, they made the final and semifinal respectively. And this summer, in the franchise's third year, they are in position again to at least make the final eight, with a final-four clinch in focus over the next 72 hours.
Article content
A winning weekend could give them first place in the conference and a berth in the semifinal round of the CEBL's 2025 Championship Weekend — also known as CW25 — hosted Aug. 22-24 by the Winnipeg Sea Bears.
Article content
Article content
Article content
After clinching a clinched a playoff berth in mid-July, the Surge are still alive for that coveted top spot in the conference.
Article content
But barely.
Article content
• The Surge must win out in the remaining two games of the regular schedule, beginning with Friday night's contest against the Saskatchewan Rattlers (6-16) at WinSport Event Centre (6 p.m.).
Article content
• The Bandits must lose their remaining two games of the regular schedule, play the host Scarborough Shooting Stars (11-11) and the host Ottawa Alliance (11-11) on Friday and Sunday respectively, with the home teams both playing for a semifinal berth in the playoffs.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Cision Canada
18 minutes ago
- Cision Canada
Sun Life Canada Hoops Takes Over The Bentway with 3x3 Showdown
What Sun Life and Canada Basketball will host Sun Life Canada Hoops, an electrifying and family-friendly U23 men's and women's national 3x3 tournament. Held at Toronto's The Bentway, this two-day event will bring together the nation's best 3x3 teams for a fast-paced, high-skill showdown under the Gardiner Expressway. Teams will have the opportunity to compete for their hometowns and put their Canadian pride on the court. Participating teams include: Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan. As the Official Health and Wellness partner of Canada Basketball, Sun Life Canada Hoops is the latest in a multi-year partnership between Sun Life Financial and Canada Basketball which empowers Canadians to focus on healthy active living through the power of sport. When Saturday, August 9 (Media are invited to capture broll and conduct interviews from 9:30 AM to noon.) 9:30 AM- Media arrival 10:00 AM- Welcome Remarks and tournament start 10:10 AM- Community programming with Lay-Up Basketball begins 11:00 AM - Meet and Greet with 3x3 Team Canada Athletes Kacie Bosch, Paige Crozon, Cassandra Brown, Alex Johnson, Saicha Grant-Allen and Katherine Plouffe and additional U23 GLOBL JAM Canada Athletes 11:30 AM- Interview opportunities with select Canada Basketball athletes. 8:05 PM - Last game of Tournament Day One Sunday, August 10, 2025 12:30 PM- Quarterfinals games begin 2:20 PM- Semifinal games begin 4:10 PM- Women's Final game 4:35 PM - Women's Awards Presentation 4:50 PM - Men's Final game 5:15 PM - Men's Awards Presentation Where The Bentway, 250 Fort York Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 3K9 (Under the Gardiner Expressway, near Fort York) Who Participating 3x3 Teams from Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan Canada Basketball 3x3 National team athletes— Kacie Bosch, Cassandra Brown, Paige Crozon, Saicha Grant-Allen, Alex Johnson, and Katherine Plouffe Michael Bartlett, President & CEO, Canada Basketball Paul Joliat, Vice-President, Global Partnerships & Marketing Planning, Sun Life Youth from Lay-Up Basketball Photo and video opportunities include: Live game action featuring top U23 men's and women's athletes from across Canada. Fan activations and community engagement around the court. Branded Sun Life activations promoting health and wellness. Note to Editors: Media accreditation is recommended to ensure access to optimal viewing areas and interviews. Please contact us in advance to confirm attendance.
The Province
an hour ago
- The Province
Victoria Mboko wins National Bank Open, first Canadian champion since 2019
The wild card from Toronto defeated Naomi Osaka 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the final at IGA Stadium in Montreal. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Mboko, the wild card from Toronto, defeated Naomi Osaka 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 on Thursday to win the National Bank Open women's tennis tournament. Try refreshing your browser, or Article content She became the first Canadian woman to win the tournament since Bianca Andreescu in 2019, and only the third in the open era. 'It's been an incredible week here in Montreal,' Mboko said on court after the final, thanking her parents, tournament staff and Osaka for the match. She then switched to French and added: 'Montréal, je vous aime!' Along the way, she knocked out Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and Elena Rybakina in a fearless charge to her first WTA final. Against Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion representing Japan, Mboko had the home crowd firmly behind her.
Global News
an hour ago
- Global News
Canada's Mboko completes fairytale run with National Bank Open title
She's a rising star, a fighter — and now, a champion. Victoria Mboko did it again on Thursday night, rallying back through a wrist injury to defeat four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the National Bank Open final, capping a fairytale run that fans across Canada won't soon forget. The 18-year-old Canadian tennis sensation dropped to her knees after Osaka fired a shot into the net as a packed house hit ear-splitting decibels around IGA Stadium's centre court. 'It's been an incredible week here in Montreal,' Mboko told the crowd in a post-match ceremony. 'Montreal, je vous aime!' Mboko hugged her family and coaches in the courtside box after gutting out another thrilling comeback to claim her first career WTA title — at a 1000-level event, no less. Story continues below advertisement She became the third Canadian to win the hometown tournament in the Open Era, joining Bianca Andreescu (2019) and Faye Urban (1969), and the first to do so in Montreal. And Mboko did it with a stiff and swollen wrist that was 'hard to move.' After falling hard early in Wednesday's third set, Mboko woke up Thursday morning and rushed to the hospital for X-rays and an MRI, but ultimately received the green light to play. 5:30 Canadian tennis star Victoria Mboko dominates National Bank Open 'Today was such an eventful day actually,' said Mboko, who shook her wrist in visible discomfort often Thursday. 'It feels unbelievable right now. I mean, words cannot really describe how today went. 'There's some moments where it was aggravating me a lot, but I feel like it was the final. I just kept saying to myself, 'You have one more to go.'' Story continues below advertisement With her wrist wrapped in a bandage, Mboko piled up a whopping 13 double faults, and the speed of her first serves dipped as low as 120 kilometres per hour instead of the usual 180 late in the second set. But it didn't matter. The Toronto phenom, who also grew up in Burlington, Ont., will now climb to 25th in the women's singles world rankings, a stunning rise after she began the year outside the top 300 and started the tournament ranked 85th. Mboko improved to 53-9 in all competitions this year, including 27-8 against higher-ranked players. She also took home US$752,275 for winning the tournament after earning just $458,001 in her career before the event. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy In a heroic final game, Mboko battled from 40-15 down against Osaka's serve to win the match, kicking it off with a remarkable rush to the net after the Japanese star just barely touched the ball over. Mboko retrieved the ball a split-second before it bounced a second time, hitting it into an open backcourt and falling to the ground as the crowd erupted. 'At that point, I had the fighting mentality,' she said. 'I wanted to run and put as many balls back in the court as possible. I wanted it so badly that I think falling was a little bit worth it.' Story continues below advertisement The Canadian followed with a massive forehand winner before Osaka struck a shot long to set up match point, fans rising to their feet, and Mboko made no mistake. 'When I had that winning moment and seeing so many people standing up and cheering for me, it was kind of a surreal experience,' she said. 'I would have never thought something like this would have came so suddenly. 'It just proves that your dreams are closer than they (seem).' It was Mboko's second jaw-dropping performance in as many nights. She reached the final by winning a match for the ages in the semifinal, climbing from one set down, saving a match point and battling through her wrist ailment to upset former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (4) in an absolute thriller. Mboko's breakout moment also included wins over 2020 Australian Open champ Sofia Kenin and world No. 2 Coco Gauff, ousting the tournament's top seed in a 62-minute fourth-round demolition. She became the first Canadian player to defeat three former women's singles Grand Slam champions in a single WTA event in the Open Era on Wednesday — and extended it to four on Thursday. Osaka, meanwhile, was seeking her eighth title and first since the 2021 Australian Open. Story continues below advertisement She put on a clinic in the first set, holding Mboko without a breakpoint chance. That changed drastically in the second and third, where serving hardly seemed to be an advantage in an error-filled two sets. Mboko broke Osaka eight times on nine opportunities, and in total there were 14 service breaks in 25 games. 2:07 Canadian tennis phenom Victoria Mboko continues meteoric rise in Montreal Before Osaka could even put the opening serve of the match in play, fans disrupted Mboko's opponent with 'Go Vicky!' chants. When the Japanese star double-faulted on the second point, the crowd let out a loud, extended 'Yeah!' The crowd was so rowdy, the umpire repeatedly asked fans to 'please be quiet during the points.' Osaka stayed composed early despite the hostile environment, but later showed frustration as the match unravelled. At 1-1 in the third set, she struck a ball into the crowd after faulting on her first serve. Story continues below advertisement When the crowd applauded the runner-up with some yelling mixed in following the match, Osaka said, 'Thanks, I guess,' and did not congratulate Mboko on her victory. 'I don't really wanna take up too much time,' she told the crowd. 'I'll just say thank you to everyone. Thank you to my team, the ball kids, organizers and volunteers, and I hope you guys had a good night.' Osaka later declined to speak with reporters in a post-match news conference, but said she 'completely forgot to congratulate' Mboko in a transcript provided by the WTA. It was a dream matchup on multiple fronts. In one corner, Mboko, a teenager announcing herself as Canada's next tennis star. In the other, the 27-year-old Osaka, a former world No. 1 having a resurgence after stepping away for 15 months for the birth of her daughter in July 2023. Both players were unseeded — the third time ever in a WTA 1000 final — and Mboko was only the third wild card to make the tournament final. 2:13 Victoria Mboko continues to wow fans at the Canadian Open Mboko arrived in Montreal with her star rising in the tennis world. Story continues below advertisement A promising junior player who dealt with a nagging knee injury the past two years, she began the season on a 22-match unbeaten streak in the lower-tier ITF Tour before rising through qualifying to the French Open third round and making more noise at Wimbledon. Her breakthrough in Montreal put her on the map in her home country. Over in Toronto, the Sobeys Stadium crowd broke out into cheers when Mboko's win was announced during the men's singles final between Ben Shelton and Karen Khachanov, confusing both players. 'She's done it! Incredible performance by our Canadian champion, Victoria Mboko!' Prime Minister Mark Carney posted to X, formerly known as Twitter. Tournament director Valérie Tétreault said before the final that 'It's been all about Vicky Mboko.' 'Montreal, Quebec, and even across the country, right now everybody is following what's happening at this tournament and is inspired by this young woman, only 18 years of age, who keeps surprising us,' she said. 'She has a bright future ahead of her.' Tennis Canada announced a third sellout with Mboko playing and a total of 287,329 spectators for this year's revamped 12-day, 96-player National Bank Open. Next up, Mboko has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open and will now be seeded at the U.S. Open, the final Grand Slam of the season in late August.
